I am Lion, hear my luncheon!

By Stephanie Block, National Young Leadership Cabinet Member

The fog was even thicker in Daly City than it was in San Francisco. But it didn't stop women from as far north as Sonoma and as far south as Palo Alto from gathering together at the annual Lion of Judah luncheon. Lions of Judah are women who embody the spirit of tzedakah by contributing a minimum of $5,000 to the Jewish Community Federation's Annual Campaign. Together, we celebrated the 6th day of Sukkot, rejoiced in a “pop up” sukkah and each woman had the opportunity to shake the lulav and etrog. Fog didn't daunt the cozy celebration; in fact, spirits were sunny.

Now you might be thinking that a luncheon sounds a little old fashioned. Couldn't we have group Skyped or had a live Tweet-up? We get so busy with all our familial, professional and philanthropic commitments that getting us in a room at one time is a miracle. But there's something very powerful about women gathering together in person for a shared meal and shared dialogue.

J Weekly Editor-in-Chief Sue Fishkoff took the podium with the contrasting landscape behind her. According to this hard-hitting journalist, Jewish life is flourishing in America and here in the Bay Area. Synagogue membership may be down, but folks are creating new kinds of worship groups on their own and the next generation is starting grassroots Jewish organizations devoted to ecology and social justice.

All in all, it's a great time to be Jewish. And it's a fabulous time to be a Jewish woman and involved with the Jewish Community Federation. The fogs of marginality and indifference have been lifted by resurgence. And we should be very excited about what we see underneath! Oh, and the salmon was delicious, too.